Kevin VanDam's Soft Jerkbait Technique

Written And Illustrated By BERNIE SCHULTZ

The 1992 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year reveals his secrets for fishing soft jerkbaits...

      It's the hottest new lure since the Gitzit, yet it's probably the simplest design ever molded into a soft plastic bait. The original soft jerkbait was the Slug-Go, named for its soft and featureless slug-like shape. Numerous versions are available from various manufacturers, but all share a common feature: When fished correctly, soft jerkbaits emulate a struggling baitfish better than any other lure.
     New also to the bassing scene is Kevin VanDam, who hit the BASSMASTER® Tournament Trail as the hottest rookie ever. In his first two years of competition, VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., never failed to make the money in a pro event, winning the coveted B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year title last season. He attributes much of his success to his knowledge and use of soft jerkbaits.

  

WHEN AND WHERE TO JERK

    "They're great tools for finding and catching bass," VanDam says. "I can cover lots of water, locating both isolated fish as well as large concentrations." Soft jerkbaits are also effective on heavily pressured fish. "I have no problem fishing behind another angler, as long as he's not throwing the same bait. That's a big plus in tournaments!" he says.
     Since soft jerkbaits are year-round tools, VanDam mainly looks for the proper habitat to employ the bait. "Finding the right habitat is easy when you consider the lure's versatility," he explains. "Primarily, I look for shallower areas with clearer water and lots of cover."

 

     Just about anything that will hold fish is right for soft jerkbaits: rock, wood, vegetation, or any combination of these. Whatever the cover, depth and water-clarity will ultimately decide the effectiveness of the lure. Water shallower than 10 feet with at least 3 feet of visibility is preferred.

HOW TO JERK

     Although clearer water usually dictates lighter tackle, Van Dam chooses heavy equipment for casting distance and leverage on hooked fish. He recommends medium-heavy 6 1/2 to 7-foot trigger-style casting rods and reels spooled with 17- to 20-pound-test mono. When fishing deeper, he uses lighter line which permits




 

VanDam's
Soft Jerkbait
Checklist

  Lure Colors - For windy or overcast days, use bright colors you can see, such as pink, white or chartreuse. On calm or clear days, try more natural colors, like shad or shiner patterns.

  Equipment - 17- to 20-pound test line (lighter line for fishing deeper), 6 1/2- to 7-foot trigger stick graphite rod, matching casting reel.

  Seasonal Effectiveness - Year-round.

  Water Clarity - Clear to at least 3 feet of visibility; not usually effective in stained or muddy water.

  Cover - Any structure that can hold fish (rock, wood, vegetation or any combination)

  Depth Range - Primarily shallow water, less than 10 feet.

 Presentation -Long casts are best to avoid spooking shallow, clear-water fish.

  Retrieve - Side-to-side motion like that used for Zara Spooks, but slow enough to maintain rhythm and plane. Keep lure close to or in contact with the cover.

  Rigging - 3/0 to 5/0 offset work hook. Rig texas-style (see Fig. 2); point may be exposed when fishing sparse cover.

the lure to sink faster. While some manufacturers provide nail-like weights or rattles, VanDam feels these retard the lure's action; he prefers to reduce line size instead.
     The desired retrieve is an underwater sashay much like that of the dog-walk used for Zara Spooks. This is achieved by keeping the rod tip down and using short, rhythmic jerks (see Fig. 1). With each jerk, the bait glides, and on the next jerk, it switches directions and glides again. As he works the bait slowly from side to side, just below the surface or over and through the cover, VanDam tries to maintain visual contact with it. This enables him to judge whether the fish has the lure, and when and in which direction to set the hook.
     As in fishing topwater plugs, it is vital to make sure a fish has the bait. Then, set against the direction the fish is traveling. When you swing, he says, don't be tentative. Swing hard!

TIPS FOR SOFT JERKBAITS

     When approaching a selected area, VanDam likes to use wind to his advantage. "If it's blowing, I'll shut down upwind of the area and allow the wind to blow me right over the cover while casting downwind," he says. "If there's no wind, I'll work my way into the cover with my trolling motor, trying the edge first." If it's too windy, VanDam suggests using other types of baits or finding an area that is more protected.
     Color choices are based on wind and light levels. "For windy or overcast days, use colors that are easy to see, such as pink, white, or chartreuse. For calm, clear days, try more natural colors like shad or shiner patterns," he states.
     If you haven't tried soft jerkbaits on bass, follow VanDam's lead and get in on the 'slugfest.' Then you, too, might become a champion in the angling arena.


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Copyright © 2002 Bernie Schultz Fishing